This week’s scam catches many people off guard: The Text Message Trap. It starts with a simple, alarming message on your phone:

“You have an unpaid toll/invoice/fee. Pay now to avoid penalties.”

At first glance, it looks legitimate. The sender name might appear familiar, perhaps your state’s tollway, the local tax office, or even the postal service. The message may even include realistic logos, formatting, and language to appear official. But don’t be fooled.

This is a smishing scam, a phishing attack delivered by SMS.

How It Works

The message usually includes a link, asking you to click and make a payment to resolve the issue. But that link doesn’t lead to an official government or service site. Instead, it takes you to a fake website created by scammers to steal your personal and financial information.

If you enter details like your credit card number, banking info, or personal identification, the fraudsters gain instant access. You won’t actually pay a toll or fee, but you will end up paying the scammers.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Urgency or threats: Language like "immediate action required" or "penalties will apply."
  • Unknown links: The website URL might look suspicious or have subtle misspellings (e.g., "gov-paytoll.net").
  • Unexpected messages: Especially if you weren’t recently on a toll road or don’t owe a known fee.

What You Should Do

  • Don’t click the link. If you're unsure about a message, go directly to the official website or contact the agency it claims to be from.
  • Never share personal info via text. Legitimate agencies won’t ask you to confirm sensitive data through SMS.
  • Report the message. You can forward smishing messages to 7726 (SPAM), or report them to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Stay Safe with Homeland Credit Union

We care about your security. Always double-check before clicking, and when in doubt, ask! If you believe your Homeland Credit Union account may have been compromised by a scam, contact us immediately.

🛑 Don’t fall into the text message trap. Stay alert, stay informed, and stay secure.

Click Here to download a PDF infographic to share with others!